Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive following the Sky Blues’ full three-point victory at Loftus Road.
In a stunning second half effort at Loftus Road, Coventry City grabbed their first away win of the season with three goals in 12 minutes. Ellis Simms’ brace was sandwiched by a lovely finish from Josh Eccles as the Sky Blues thrashed QPR in their own backyard, although the home side was denied by a great first-half stop from Ben Wilson.
From three runs into the box, Simms looked the most likely to score for Coventry, but he put one over the bar and saw two saves by the goalie, whom he failed to test. But the attacker finally scored his goal in the 56th minute, when he blasted home from a flicked on free-kick in the six yard area.
Josh Eccles then doubled the lead four minutes later when a deflected shot fell kindly to him on the edge of the D, leaving the midfielder to hit a precise finish into the far bottom corner. And Simms wrapped things up when he converted a Jamie Allen cross at the far post on 68 minutes. Kenneth Paal then grabbed a consolation goal in the 90th minute after slack marking at the back.
6.5 for BOBBY THOMAS
With a vital early block, he read the game well but failed to get close enough to his man, who fired in a cross for Dykes to test Wilson for the first time. Overall, the defence was strong.
7 KYLE McFADZEAN
He kept the back three together with his typical strong and uncompromising performance. Throughout, it is strong.
7 LUIS BINKS
Displayed outstanding precision with a variety of passes from his left boot and defended admirably, albeit throwing the ball away with one awful mid-range pass that encouraged danger. With a cushioned header from a free-kick, he assisted Simms’ first goal.
Displayed outstanding precision with a variety of passes from his left boot and defended admirably, albeit throwing the ball away with one awful mid-range pass that encouraged danger. With a cushioned header from a free-kick, he assisted Simms’ first goal.
6 JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE
Deployed at right wing-back in place of the rested Sakamoto, the defender didn’t move much forward in a conservative first 45 minutes. After the hiatus, I became more interested as City ran wild.
ECCLES, JOSH: 7.5
In the midst of the midfield action, performing admirably in an increasingly flat and scrappy first half. Scored a fantastic precision goal from the edge of the D to double City’s advantage and assisted on another.
In a box-to-box performance, he covered a lot of ground, winning a lot of tackles (including one on Chris Willock) and attempting to locate excellent passes to the strikers.
6.5 JAY DASILVA
A good outlet down the left, but needed to move closer to Paul Smyth to clear a dangerous cross at the other end. Simms’ first goal came from a free kick.
7.5 JAMIE ALLEN
He provided much-needed energy in the final third, when he was an excellent outlet for several seeking balls from midfield. A wonderful ball in behind QPR’s defensive line set up Simms for his second.
High pressing from the front with lots of running, but no goal in the first half. When his deflected shot found Eccles, he had a hand in the second goal. Throughout, the tone is upbeat.
8.5 ELLIS SIMMS
As he seemed a threat again, he hit a good early chance over the bar. When played down the right, he sprinted into the box, leaving his marker on his backside, but his shot was blocked by the keeper. Passed up another golden opportunity early in the second half while attempting to place past the keeper, but earned his goal with a well-timed move to convert from close range and delivered another terrific finish to convert a Jamie
Brad Collins (GK), Liam Kitching, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jake Bidwell, Marco Rus, Bradley Stretton, and Justin Obikwu were the substitutes who did not play.
Asmir Begovic; Osman Kakay, Steve Cook, Morgan Fox (4 minutes for Jake Clarke-Salter); Paul Smyth, Andre Dozzell, Sam Field, Kenneth Paal; Chris Willock, Ilias Chair; Lyndon Dykes.
Jordan Archer (GK), Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Ziyad Larkeche, Charlie Kelman, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Sinclair Armstrong, Albert Adomah, Rayan Kolli (subs not used).
